QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan And that one guy wonders why I put long replies. On the block signals, there are 2 between each siding. They are still there except for the home and siding signals. The Liberal Depot is now the Chamber of Commerce, and it also houses a Mexican Rest. They have even built a little bit of an area where you go outside and watch them go by, you are only 15 to 20 ft. from the tracks. You are a little elevated so you get a good view of them. I live in Kismet, KS. I am 17 miles NE of Liberal. I am only 4 miles east of the Samson of the Cimarron. I also used to live in McPherson, and no the flour mill is not open at Inman no more. They do run a El Paso-Herington Manifest(MEPHN&MHNEP). These trains are usually not that long, but they are very heavy. They may be only 30-40 cars long but they weigh around 5000 tons. Most of the time, it rolls through with 4 units, most of the time its a grab bag of power. I like them because you can see SD40-2's, old Tunnel Motors-just whatever they can find. Seen the MHNEP yesterday, had a SD70M in lead, followed by a SW1500 UPY1165 going back to Liberal for the yard, and UP 8635(SD40-T2), he was only about 25 cars but he was loaded to the gills. Yes, Liberal has 2 SW1500's doing the yard work there. Inman is between Hutchinson and McPherson. Yes, the stackers do the get on BNSF at Hutchinson, I am 3 hours west of Hutch. If you was to reference to the issue on the GSR. You will see Kismet there on the map. We are just a spot in the road.LOL. They are currently running grain trains for now, they are trying to get last years harvest out still. One interesting noteof interest. About 15 miles NE of Guymon, OK, there is a new Collinwood Grain elevator there. The load big grain trains out of there. They usually run about 115 cars long. The power they use is a pair of GP18's. Most of the time, they run with AC4400's-just 3 of them. But on the "monsters" as you call them. Most of the time, they are not very long. They are running right around 5000 tons, and about 6500 ft long-intermodels. The autorack trains, AKSML is the big one. They never run less then 75 cars long, usually rating a pair of 70M's AKSPX is around 60 cars, AKSTU 45-55. AKSCI,35-45. Intermodels are ILBCH,ICHLB,IEPIM,IIMEP, these are the BNSF routers, manifests MEPHN MHNEP,MWCKS, MKSWC,MKSTU,MTUKS (sometimes they run the last 2) then you have the grain trains, occasional empty coal, and the ILBG2, and IG2LB, those are the ones you want to catch, they run around 9000 ft., rate 4 or 5 units, those also run on BNSF(i THINK). Well I'm off too go chasing on this Sat. morning. Have a good weekend and good hunting. Laters, Dru
Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub
QUOTE: Originally posted by sammythebull Does anyone know if the ADM flour mill at Inman is still operating? This was a regular stop for the Hutchinson-McPherson local turn which had the unoffical nickname as the Reno County Rocket. Heard that the mill is no longer in business. Just wondering.
QUOTE: Originally posted by rockisland4309 Yeah. That is a pretty sweet pic of the RI train coming into El Paso. If you plan on going around the middle of June you will catch wheat harvest in the southern part of the state so, you might catch quite a few grain trains besides the usual intermodal traffic. Dru would know for sure when wheat harvest would start. Oh, if you decide to follow the whole GSR make sure to stop at Liberal and get pics of the Depot and Grier Eating house. I have several shots of the depot in Liberal also of the Samson of the Cimmaron too.
Originally posted by rockisland4309 Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply rockisland4309 Member sinceOctober 2003 From: Phoenix 128 posts Posted by rockisland4309 on Friday, March 18, 2005 11:30 AM Spbed, The signal has a round face and the in the center of the face the lenses are set up in an upside down triangle. Very cool. Like I said, there was only a few left the last time I railfanned the GSR. Also, for a side note....stop at Tucumcari and get some shots of the ex-RI/SP depot and if you go to Dalhart get some shots of the ex-RI depot too. It sits just north of the UP/BNSF diamond. Oh, and I almost forgot if you drive along the Dalhart yard you will see the old Rock Island grain elevator with the RI herald painted on each of the grain bins. Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 11:22 AM Ok there is now another EB stacker on the cam stopped as the bridge is again opened. This one has 4 locos with a CSX as the #2 engine. [8D][8D][:D] Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 9:56 AM In Oct I will be doing the El Paso to Vaughn portion & can give you a report at that time. Just tell me what to look for [:o)] QUOTE: Originally posted by rockisland4309 Dru, Has U.P. replaced all of the old Rock Island triangle three-light block signals? Is there any left? The last time I railfanned the GSR there was only few left b/w Pratt and McPherson and I think I had seen a couple b/w Liberal and Tyrone Okla. Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply rockisland4309 Member sinceOctober 2003 From: Phoenix 128 posts Posted by rockisland4309 on Friday, March 18, 2005 9:51 AM Dru, Has U.P. replaced all of the old Rock Island triangle three-light block signals? Is there any left? The last time I railfanned the GSR there was only few left b/w Pratt and McPherson and I think I had seen a couple b/w Liberal and Tyrone Okla. Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 9:39 AM Heads up alert a WB stacker just went past the cam being pulled only by 2 NS black locos. It went by @ 0940 FM time [:o)][:o)][:o)] Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply dehusman Member sinceSeptember 2003 From: Omaha, NE 10,621 posts Posted by dehusman on Friday, March 18, 2005 9:10 AM Do you guys have to quote a page long previous post to add one line of information? Just post the comment. Dave H. Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 8:43 AM Right now on the Ft. Madison cam there is a UPRR EB stacker with a 3 loco set lead #9296 sytopped because the bridge is open. [:o)][:D][:)] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 7:04 AM To what city is that 20 hours to? Wow almost one day to get to you from FM. How the heck did they ever run the bullet train if it takes almost one day to go from Eastern Iowa to where ever you are west of Ft. Madison ?[:D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 7:01 AM Actually the UPRR trains destined to or from Chicago via Ft. Madison enter or depart the BNSF at Hutchinson KS. Are you east or west of there? I found the Trains magazine article as I cataloging my Train magazine collection. It was in 2001 if you want a copy Email where to send it to spbed@yahoo.com [8D][8D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply favuprailroadfan Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 270 posts Posted by favuprailroadfan on Thursday, March 17, 2005 4:06 PM howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Thursday, March 17, 2005 12:38 PM OK the cam is back so if a WB UPRR comes by I will give you the heads up! [:p] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Thursday, March 17, 2005 8:21 AM Sorry Ft. Madison cam went blank @ 0830 EST so naturally no further reports until it returns. [:(] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Thursday, March 17, 2005 7:10 AM Yep sounds wacko but the UPRR got those rights from acquiring the SPRR who got the rights from the I think the former ICC when they purchased the GSR after RI fell. It is in a way no difference that UPRR holds trackage rights over BNSF to get from LAX to Daggett so they can then access their own line to LV, SLC & the overland route. [8D] QUOTE: Originally posted by farmer03 i know it's pretty common, but it seems odd to me that UP is trying to compete with BNSF between chicago and LA...and uses the competitor's route for 1/4 of the journey. that'd be along the lines of mcdonalds selling big macs at burger king. Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 10:57 PM i know it's pretty common, but it seems odd to me that UP is trying to compete with BNSF between chicago and LA...and uses the competitor's route for 1/4 of the journey. that'd be along the lines of mcdonalds selling big macs at burger king. Reply Edit spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 12:26 PM Hey a UPRR EB stacker just went by with only NS engines pulling it. Did you see it down there? [:D][:D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 11:14 AM Well Trains magazine reported that the UPRR has purchased land at Edelstein IL so that can build a connector from the BNSF transcon to the UPRR Peoria sub so that UPRR will be able to run trains over the Sunset/GSR/then BNSF transon to Edelstein/then the Peoria sub to Nelson Il to connect with the old CNW overland route. If those plans materialize then for sure they will have to improve the GSR as I guess the reason for spending the $$$$ is to compete with the BNSF in the LAX/CHIC corridor. [8D][:o)] there QUOTE: Originally posted by rockisland4309 Dru, Has U.P. decided not to wire CTC from Liberal to Herington? In the TRAINS article the railroad was planning on getting the entire GSR wired for CTC to Herington. Also, how many locals run out of Liberal? Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply rockisland4309 Member sinceOctober 2003 From: Phoenix 128 posts Posted by rockisland4309 on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 10:59 AM Dru, Has U.P. decided not to wire CTC from Liberal to Herington? In the TRAINS article the railroad was planning on getting the entire GSR wired for CTC to Herington. Also, how many locals run out of Liberal? Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 7:48 AM Heads up a WB stacker just passed Ft. Madison @ 7:45 AM. 3 loco UPRR set one is #4426 or 4429. How many hours more/less to your area? [8D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply favuprailroadfan Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 270 posts Posted by favuprailroadfan on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 1:58 PM Thanks for the heads up on the WB Stackers. Friday night I saw something interesting. There was a empty coal sitting here in the siding waiting on 2 east. About 2 months ago, we was seeing about 4-6 empty coal a day.This was the first one I seen since then. They reroute them if they are doing work on the KP or the line in Neb. On the bullet, I don't know if the track was in that bad of shape then, but I know that it wasn't in the best shape. They wanted to run it at 75, but the AC6000's that they had on it, they tripped the governor at 74.9. To give you some perspective on what that train did. It would leave KC at 9:30 A.M. on a Wed., and it would be crossing Main here in Kismet at 6:15 P.M, and be in El Paso@ 10:30 A.M Thursday. The EB version would pass here at 7:30 A.M. on Wed. So they always meet sometime on BNSF between Hutchinson and KC on the Emporia Sub. UP crews ran all the way from Pratt to KC. They did this run about 4-41/2 hours. That is making awesome time. If you ever get out in the area, bring a scanner, this line is TWC and ABS signaling. Just east of Liberal@ MP426.9, there is a change of dispatcher and frequency change. From 426.9-Pratt(MP279), it is in the control of Dispatcher 72@ 160.320, and 426.9-Dalhart(MP544)-Dispatcher 11@161.550. MofW channel is 161.400, there are sidings @ Pratt-9900ft,Wellsford-9080,Joy-9070,Bucklin-9950,Bloom-9090,Fowler-9070,Missler-9080,Kismet-9070,Liberal-8700,Tyrone-9070,Goodwell-9080,Stevens-9090,then at Stratford,TX, they have the interchange with one of BNSF's coal routes, it then goes CTC all the way to Dalhart, siding at Stratford is 6800,Conlen-9080,Dalhart-I think they extended it to around 11,000. There also the interchange with the other BNSF coal route right beside the depot there, where you can get good pics of trains. Hope this helps everybody out. Keep replaying, Dru Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 8:29 AM Sorry guy the Ft. Madison is down at the moment so no heads up concerning UPRR WBers on the BNSF transcon will be posted. [:(] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Sunday, March 13, 2005 1:47 PM Whenever I see a UPRR hit the cam going WB I will dial you up! Thanks also for the explanation that the work done on the GSR was in NM. If the UPRR is going to make that connector in Edelstein from the BNSF to their Peoria sub then onto the overland I would expect the part they did not upgrade yet will be upgraded quickly so that they can then really compete with the BNSF. When the bullet train was on the go was that also restricted to 40MPH as you posted? When I saw it Ariz I wish I had a radar gun but I would estimate min over 60MPH. [:D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Thanks for all the replays guys. Keep them coming. I saw that one stacker with the CSX loco yesterday morning sitting here in the siding @ Kismet. They switched the lead unit which was a C40-8, for the second unit, an SD60, which is always cool to have a EMD up front(just an opinion). The stacker sat in the siding for almost an hour and a half, while waiting on 2 manifests. I have been told by service guys, that they are only running 4 stackers a day on the BNSF, these interchange off @ Hutchinson. They run 4 manifests, and 4 autorack(2 in each direction). You also have the grain trains, which run in DPU mode sometimes. Yesterday, they finally brought in a rock train, and laid it down in the cut that is just west of town. They are supposed to be bringing in a total of 180 cars, this one was just 60 long. But the thing is, they are wanting to run this line to compete with BNSF, at 40 mph? I don't think so. Yes I understand that this not UP's only line, but this line does connect with the Sunset, so they do need some TLC for it. I like the comment about the SP breaking the gov. On the article in TRAINS, yes it was a very good article, but that pic was down in New Mexico, where UP has spent all kinds of money down there, it is CTC and they have done a lot of work, so they are supposed to be here soon. ( Let's hope)! But they are concentratin on the Sunset so much, but its like they have forgotten. SO keep the repies coming and I'll get back to them ASAP. Laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply favuprailroadfan Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 270 posts Posted by favuprailroadfan on Saturday, March 12, 2005 9:41 AM Thanks for all the replays guys. Keep them coming. I saw that one stacker with the CSX loco yesterday morning sitting here in the siding @ Kismet. They switched the lead unit which was a C40-8, for the second unit, an SD60, which is always cool to have a EMD up front(just an opinion). The stacker sat in the siding for almost an hour and a half, while waiting on 2 manifests. I have been told by service guys, that they are only running 4 stackers a day on the BNSF, these interchange off @ Hutchinson. They run 4 manifests, and 4 autorack(2 in each direction). You also have the grain trains, which run in DPU mode sometimes. Yesterday, they finally brought in a rock train, and laid it down in the cut that is just west of town. They are supposed to be bringing in a total of 180 cars, this one was just 60 long. But the thing is, they are wanting to run this line to compete with BNSF, at 40 mph? I don't think so. Yes I understand that this not UP's only line, but this line does connect with the Sunset, so they do need some TLC for it. I like the comment about the SP breaking the gov. On the article in TRAINS, yes it was a very good article, but that pic was down in New Mexico, where UP has spent all kinds of money down there, it is CTC and they have done a lot of work, so they are supposed to be here soon. ( Let's hope)! But they are concentratin on the Sunset so much, but its like they have forgotten. SO keep the repies coming and I'll get back to them ASAP. Laters, Dru Reply 123 Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 9:56 AM In Oct I will be doing the El Paso to Vaughn portion & can give you a report at that time. Just tell me what to look for [:o)] QUOTE: Originally posted by rockisland4309 Dru, Has U.P. replaced all of the old Rock Island triangle three-light block signals? Is there any left? The last time I railfanned the GSR there was only few left b/w Pratt and McPherson and I think I had seen a couple b/w Liberal and Tyrone Okla. Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply rockisland4309 Member sinceOctober 2003 From: Phoenix 128 posts Posted by rockisland4309 on Friday, March 18, 2005 9:51 AM Dru, Has U.P. replaced all of the old Rock Island triangle three-light block signals? Is there any left? The last time I railfanned the GSR there was only few left b/w Pratt and McPherson and I think I had seen a couple b/w Liberal and Tyrone Okla. Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 9:39 AM Heads up alert a WB stacker just went past the cam being pulled only by 2 NS black locos. It went by @ 0940 FM time [:o)][:o)][:o)] Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply dehusman Member sinceSeptember 2003 From: Omaha, NE 10,621 posts Posted by dehusman on Friday, March 18, 2005 9:10 AM Do you guys have to quote a page long previous post to add one line of information? Just post the comment. Dave H. Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 8:43 AM Right now on the Ft. Madison cam there is a UPRR EB stacker with a 3 loco set lead #9296 sytopped because the bridge is open. [:o)][:D][:)] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 7:04 AM To what city is that 20 hours to? Wow almost one day to get to you from FM. How the heck did they ever run the bullet train if it takes almost one day to go from Eastern Iowa to where ever you are west of Ft. Madison ?[:D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 7:01 AM Actually the UPRR trains destined to or from Chicago via Ft. Madison enter or depart the BNSF at Hutchinson KS. Are you east or west of there? I found the Trains magazine article as I cataloging my Train magazine collection. It was in 2001 if you want a copy Email where to send it to spbed@yahoo.com [8D][8D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply favuprailroadfan Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 270 posts Posted by favuprailroadfan on Thursday, March 17, 2005 4:06 PM howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Thursday, March 17, 2005 12:38 PM OK the cam is back so if a WB UPRR comes by I will give you the heads up! [:p] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Thursday, March 17, 2005 8:21 AM Sorry Ft. Madison cam went blank @ 0830 EST so naturally no further reports until it returns. [:(] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Thursday, March 17, 2005 7:10 AM Yep sounds wacko but the UPRR got those rights from acquiring the SPRR who got the rights from the I think the former ICC when they purchased the GSR after RI fell. It is in a way no difference that UPRR holds trackage rights over BNSF to get from LAX to Daggett so they can then access their own line to LV, SLC & the overland route. [8D] QUOTE: Originally posted by farmer03 i know it's pretty common, but it seems odd to me that UP is trying to compete with BNSF between chicago and LA...and uses the competitor's route for 1/4 of the journey. that'd be along the lines of mcdonalds selling big macs at burger king. Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 10:57 PM i know it's pretty common, but it seems odd to me that UP is trying to compete with BNSF between chicago and LA...and uses the competitor's route for 1/4 of the journey. that'd be along the lines of mcdonalds selling big macs at burger king. Reply Edit spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 12:26 PM Hey a UPRR EB stacker just went by with only NS engines pulling it. Did you see it down there? [:D][:D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 11:14 AM Well Trains magazine reported that the UPRR has purchased land at Edelstein IL so that can build a connector from the BNSF transcon to the UPRR Peoria sub so that UPRR will be able to run trains over the Sunset/GSR/then BNSF transon to Edelstein/then the Peoria sub to Nelson Il to connect with the old CNW overland route. If those plans materialize then for sure they will have to improve the GSR as I guess the reason for spending the $$$$ is to compete with the BNSF in the LAX/CHIC corridor. [8D][:o)] there QUOTE: Originally posted by rockisland4309 Dru, Has U.P. decided not to wire CTC from Liberal to Herington? In the TRAINS article the railroad was planning on getting the entire GSR wired for CTC to Herington. Also, how many locals run out of Liberal? Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply rockisland4309 Member sinceOctober 2003 From: Phoenix 128 posts Posted by rockisland4309 on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 10:59 AM Dru, Has U.P. decided not to wire CTC from Liberal to Herington? In the TRAINS article the railroad was planning on getting the entire GSR wired for CTC to Herington. Also, how many locals run out of Liberal? Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 7:48 AM Heads up a WB stacker just passed Ft. Madison @ 7:45 AM. 3 loco UPRR set one is #4426 or 4429. How many hours more/less to your area? [8D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply favuprailroadfan Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 270 posts Posted by favuprailroadfan on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 1:58 PM Thanks for the heads up on the WB Stackers. Friday night I saw something interesting. There was a empty coal sitting here in the siding waiting on 2 east. About 2 months ago, we was seeing about 4-6 empty coal a day.This was the first one I seen since then. They reroute them if they are doing work on the KP or the line in Neb. On the bullet, I don't know if the track was in that bad of shape then, but I know that it wasn't in the best shape. They wanted to run it at 75, but the AC6000's that they had on it, they tripped the governor at 74.9. To give you some perspective on what that train did. It would leave KC at 9:30 A.M. on a Wed., and it would be crossing Main here in Kismet at 6:15 P.M, and be in El Paso@ 10:30 A.M Thursday. The EB version would pass here at 7:30 A.M. on Wed. So they always meet sometime on BNSF between Hutchinson and KC on the Emporia Sub. UP crews ran all the way from Pratt to KC. They did this run about 4-41/2 hours. That is making awesome time. If you ever get out in the area, bring a scanner, this line is TWC and ABS signaling. Just east of Liberal@ MP426.9, there is a change of dispatcher and frequency change. From 426.9-Pratt(MP279), it is in the control of Dispatcher 72@ 160.320, and 426.9-Dalhart(MP544)-Dispatcher 11@161.550. MofW channel is 161.400, there are sidings @ Pratt-9900ft,Wellsford-9080,Joy-9070,Bucklin-9950,Bloom-9090,Fowler-9070,Missler-9080,Kismet-9070,Liberal-8700,Tyrone-9070,Goodwell-9080,Stevens-9090,then at Stratford,TX, they have the interchange with one of BNSF's coal routes, it then goes CTC all the way to Dalhart, siding at Stratford is 6800,Conlen-9080,Dalhart-I think they extended it to around 11,000. There also the interchange with the other BNSF coal route right beside the depot there, where you can get good pics of trains. Hope this helps everybody out. Keep replaying, Dru Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 8:29 AM Sorry guy the Ft. Madison is down at the moment so no heads up concerning UPRR WBers on the BNSF transcon will be posted. [:(] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Sunday, March 13, 2005 1:47 PM Whenever I see a UPRR hit the cam going WB I will dial you up! Thanks also for the explanation that the work done on the GSR was in NM. If the UPRR is going to make that connector in Edelstein from the BNSF to their Peoria sub then onto the overland I would expect the part they did not upgrade yet will be upgraded quickly so that they can then really compete with the BNSF. When the bullet train was on the go was that also restricted to 40MPH as you posted? When I saw it Ariz I wish I had a radar gun but I would estimate min over 60MPH. [:D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Thanks for all the replays guys. Keep them coming. I saw that one stacker with the CSX loco yesterday morning sitting here in the siding @ Kismet. They switched the lead unit which was a C40-8, for the second unit, an SD60, which is always cool to have a EMD up front(just an opinion). The stacker sat in the siding for almost an hour and a half, while waiting on 2 manifests. I have been told by service guys, that they are only running 4 stackers a day on the BNSF, these interchange off @ Hutchinson. They run 4 manifests, and 4 autorack(2 in each direction). You also have the grain trains, which run in DPU mode sometimes. Yesterday, they finally brought in a rock train, and laid it down in the cut that is just west of town. They are supposed to be bringing in a total of 180 cars, this one was just 60 long. But the thing is, they are wanting to run this line to compete with BNSF, at 40 mph? I don't think so. Yes I understand that this not UP's only line, but this line does connect with the Sunset, so they do need some TLC for it. I like the comment about the SP breaking the gov. On the article in TRAINS, yes it was a very good article, but that pic was down in New Mexico, where UP has spent all kinds of money down there, it is CTC and they have done a lot of work, so they are supposed to be here soon. ( Let's hope)! But they are concentratin on the Sunset so much, but its like they have forgotten. SO keep the repies coming and I'll get back to them ASAP. Laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply favuprailroadfan Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 270 posts Posted by favuprailroadfan on Saturday, March 12, 2005 9:41 AM Thanks for all the replays guys. Keep them coming. I saw that one stacker with the CSX loco yesterday morning sitting here in the siding @ Kismet. They switched the lead unit which was a C40-8, for the second unit, an SD60, which is always cool to have a EMD up front(just an opinion). The stacker sat in the siding for almost an hour and a half, while waiting on 2 manifests. I have been told by service guys, that they are only running 4 stackers a day on the BNSF, these interchange off @ Hutchinson. They run 4 manifests, and 4 autorack(2 in each direction). You also have the grain trains, which run in DPU mode sometimes. Yesterday, they finally brought in a rock train, and laid it down in the cut that is just west of town. They are supposed to be bringing in a total of 180 cars, this one was just 60 long. But the thing is, they are wanting to run this line to compete with BNSF, at 40 mph? I don't think so. Yes I understand that this not UP's only line, but this line does connect with the Sunset, so they do need some TLC for it. I like the comment about the SP breaking the gov. On the article in TRAINS, yes it was a very good article, but that pic was down in New Mexico, where UP has spent all kinds of money down there, it is CTC and they have done a lot of work, so they are supposed to be here soon. ( Let's hope)! But they are concentratin on the Sunset so much, but its like they have forgotten. SO keep the repies coming and I'll get back to them ASAP. Laters, Dru Reply 123 Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
QUOTE: Originally posted by rockisland4309 Dru, Has U.P. replaced all of the old Rock Island triangle three-light block signals? Is there any left? The last time I railfanned the GSR there was only few left b/w Pratt and McPherson and I think I had seen a couple b/w Liberal and Tyrone Okla.
Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply dehusman Member sinceSeptember 2003 From: Omaha, NE 10,621 posts Posted by dehusman on Friday, March 18, 2005 9:10 AM Do you guys have to quote a page long previous post to add one line of information? Just post the comment. Dave H. Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 8:43 AM Right now on the Ft. Madison cam there is a UPRR EB stacker with a 3 loco set lead #9296 sytopped because the bridge is open. [:o)][:D][:)] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 7:04 AM To what city is that 20 hours to? Wow almost one day to get to you from FM. How the heck did they ever run the bullet train if it takes almost one day to go from Eastern Iowa to where ever you are west of Ft. Madison ?[:D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, March 18, 2005 7:01 AM Actually the UPRR trains destined to or from Chicago via Ft. Madison enter or depart the BNSF at Hutchinson KS. Are you east or west of there? I found the Trains magazine article as I cataloging my Train magazine collection. It was in 2001 if you want a copy Email where to send it to spbed@yahoo.com [8D][8D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply favuprailroadfan Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 270 posts Posted by favuprailroadfan on Thursday, March 17, 2005 4:06 PM howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Thursday, March 17, 2005 12:38 PM OK the cam is back so if a WB UPRR comes by I will give you the heads up! [:p] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Thursday, March 17, 2005 8:21 AM Sorry Ft. Madison cam went blank @ 0830 EST so naturally no further reports until it returns. [:(] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Thursday, March 17, 2005 7:10 AM Yep sounds wacko but the UPRR got those rights from acquiring the SPRR who got the rights from the I think the former ICC when they purchased the GSR after RI fell. It is in a way no difference that UPRR holds trackage rights over BNSF to get from LAX to Daggett so they can then access their own line to LV, SLC & the overland route. [8D] QUOTE: Originally posted by farmer03 i know it's pretty common, but it seems odd to me that UP is trying to compete with BNSF between chicago and LA...and uses the competitor's route for 1/4 of the journey. that'd be along the lines of mcdonalds selling big macs at burger king. Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 10:57 PM i know it's pretty common, but it seems odd to me that UP is trying to compete with BNSF between chicago and LA...and uses the competitor's route for 1/4 of the journey. that'd be along the lines of mcdonalds selling big macs at burger king. Reply Edit spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 12:26 PM Hey a UPRR EB stacker just went by with only NS engines pulling it. Did you see it down there? [:D][:D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 11:14 AM Well Trains magazine reported that the UPRR has purchased land at Edelstein IL so that can build a connector from the BNSF transcon to the UPRR Peoria sub so that UPRR will be able to run trains over the Sunset/GSR/then BNSF transon to Edelstein/then the Peoria sub to Nelson Il to connect with the old CNW overland route. If those plans materialize then for sure they will have to improve the GSR as I guess the reason for spending the $$$$ is to compete with the BNSF in the LAX/CHIC corridor. [8D][:o)] there QUOTE: Originally posted by rockisland4309 Dru, Has U.P. decided not to wire CTC from Liberal to Herington? In the TRAINS article the railroad was planning on getting the entire GSR wired for CTC to Herington. Also, how many locals run out of Liberal? Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply rockisland4309 Member sinceOctober 2003 From: Phoenix 128 posts Posted by rockisland4309 on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 10:59 AM Dru, Has U.P. decided not to wire CTC from Liberal to Herington? In the TRAINS article the railroad was planning on getting the entire GSR wired for CTC to Herington. Also, how many locals run out of Liberal? Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 7:48 AM Heads up a WB stacker just passed Ft. Madison @ 7:45 AM. 3 loco UPRR set one is #4426 or 4429. How many hours more/less to your area? [8D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply favuprailroadfan Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 270 posts Posted by favuprailroadfan on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 1:58 PM Thanks for the heads up on the WB Stackers. Friday night I saw something interesting. There was a empty coal sitting here in the siding waiting on 2 east. About 2 months ago, we was seeing about 4-6 empty coal a day.This was the first one I seen since then. They reroute them if they are doing work on the KP or the line in Neb. On the bullet, I don't know if the track was in that bad of shape then, but I know that it wasn't in the best shape. They wanted to run it at 75, but the AC6000's that they had on it, they tripped the governor at 74.9. To give you some perspective on what that train did. It would leave KC at 9:30 A.M. on a Wed., and it would be crossing Main here in Kismet at 6:15 P.M, and be in El Paso@ 10:30 A.M Thursday. The EB version would pass here at 7:30 A.M. on Wed. So they always meet sometime on BNSF between Hutchinson and KC on the Emporia Sub. UP crews ran all the way from Pratt to KC. They did this run about 4-41/2 hours. That is making awesome time. If you ever get out in the area, bring a scanner, this line is TWC and ABS signaling. Just east of Liberal@ MP426.9, there is a change of dispatcher and frequency change. From 426.9-Pratt(MP279), it is in the control of Dispatcher 72@ 160.320, and 426.9-Dalhart(MP544)-Dispatcher 11@161.550. MofW channel is 161.400, there are sidings @ Pratt-9900ft,Wellsford-9080,Joy-9070,Bucklin-9950,Bloom-9090,Fowler-9070,Missler-9080,Kismet-9070,Liberal-8700,Tyrone-9070,Goodwell-9080,Stevens-9090,then at Stratford,TX, they have the interchange with one of BNSF's coal routes, it then goes CTC all the way to Dalhart, siding at Stratford is 6800,Conlen-9080,Dalhart-I think they extended it to around 11,000. There also the interchange with the other BNSF coal route right beside the depot there, where you can get good pics of trains. Hope this helps everybody out. Keep replaying, Dru Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 8:29 AM Sorry guy the Ft. Madison is down at the moment so no heads up concerning UPRR WBers on the BNSF transcon will be posted. [:(] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D] Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Sunday, March 13, 2005 1:47 PM Whenever I see a UPRR hit the cam going WB I will dial you up! Thanks also for the explanation that the work done on the GSR was in NM. If the UPRR is going to make that connector in Edelstein from the BNSF to their Peoria sub then onto the overland I would expect the part they did not upgrade yet will be upgraded quickly so that they can then really compete with the BNSF. When the bullet train was on the go was that also restricted to 40MPH as you posted? When I saw it Ariz I wish I had a radar gun but I would estimate min over 60MPH. [:D] QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Thanks for all the replays guys. Keep them coming. I saw that one stacker with the CSX loco yesterday morning sitting here in the siding @ Kismet. They switched the lead unit which was a C40-8, for the second unit, an SD60, which is always cool to have a EMD up front(just an opinion). The stacker sat in the siding for almost an hour and a half, while waiting on 2 manifests. I have been told by service guys, that they are only running 4 stackers a day on the BNSF, these interchange off @ Hutchinson. They run 4 manifests, and 4 autorack(2 in each direction). You also have the grain trains, which run in DPU mode sometimes. Yesterday, they finally brought in a rock train, and laid it down in the cut that is just west of town. They are supposed to be bringing in a total of 180 cars, this one was just 60 long. But the thing is, they are wanting to run this line to compete with BNSF, at 40 mph? I don't think so. Yes I understand that this not UP's only line, but this line does connect with the Sunset, so they do need some TLC for it. I like the comment about the SP breaking the gov. On the article in TRAINS, yes it was a very good article, but that pic was down in New Mexico, where UP has spent all kinds of money down there, it is CTC and they have done a lot of work, so they are supposed to be here soon. ( Let's hope)! But they are concentratin on the Sunset so much, but its like they have forgotten. SO keep the repies coming and I'll get back to them ASAP. Laters, Dru Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply favuprailroadfan Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 270 posts Posted by favuprailroadfan on Saturday, March 12, 2005 9:41 AM Thanks for all the replays guys. Keep them coming. I saw that one stacker with the CSX loco yesterday morning sitting here in the siding @ Kismet. They switched the lead unit which was a C40-8, for the second unit, an SD60, which is always cool to have a EMD up front(just an opinion). The stacker sat in the siding for almost an hour and a half, while waiting on 2 manifests. I have been told by service guys, that they are only running 4 stackers a day on the BNSF, these interchange off @ Hutchinson. They run 4 manifests, and 4 autorack(2 in each direction). You also have the grain trains, which run in DPU mode sometimes. Yesterday, they finally brought in a rock train, and laid it down in the cut that is just west of town. They are supposed to be bringing in a total of 180 cars, this one was just 60 long. But the thing is, they are wanting to run this line to compete with BNSF, at 40 mph? I don't think so. Yes I understand that this not UP's only line, but this line does connect with the Sunset, so they do need some TLC for it. I like the comment about the SP breaking the gov. On the article in TRAINS, yes it was a very good article, but that pic was down in New Mexico, where UP has spent all kinds of money down there, it is CTC and they have done a lot of work, so they are supposed to be here soon. ( Let's hope)! But they are concentratin on the Sunset so much, but its like they have forgotten. SO keep the repies coming and I'll get back to them ASAP. Laters, Dru Reply 123 Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
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QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan howdy yall, you can count on about 20 hrs or so to Ft. Madison from here. There is 2 locals out of Liberal. One to Pratt and one to Dalhart. 7 miles east of here in Plains, there originate grain trains, they usually run around 100 cars long, and most of the time they run with 3 AC4400's up front, but I do get lucky sometimes and they are operating in DPU mode. No they have not run the CTC yet, the sidings are dispatcher controlled yet they are considered manual interlockings, in TWC ABS territory. The home signals for every siding is directly related to which indication in on the siding signal, which I know yall know that. Ponder something with me, there are 4 signals between each siding, But the ones on before the siding is the home. So there are only 2 signals which are not controlled by the dispatcher whould you not run CTC, they sidings are wired for CTC, but there are not considered it???? They are all screwed up in which way they want to run it. I was down at the tracks today with my 1 yr old, and he got his fix, and it pretty much did me the same. Had a grain train sitting in the siding, which met 4(yes 4) eastbounds. 1st was a MEPHN, 2nd-ILAG2(one of those K-Line trains that should routed on the BNSF) HEADS UP( 4 units, SD70M,ex-SP C44-9W, UP C44-9W, and a UP C40-8. 3rd-APXKS, and the last was a empty grain. The GSR is CTC from Herington to Topeka, always has been-it also used to be double track(how many knew that?) But SP took out the double and left long sidings- they run about 12,00-15,000 ft long. And as I said before, it is CTC from Stratford-Dalhart. No I didn't see the EB NS. I don't get to see them all. Sometimes, you can see a train with pure NS, or pure CSX, seen one through here one time, a stacker, with 4 SD70MAC's, talk about sweet. They have finally got all the rock leveled off and taken care of, so they have raised the speed through town here at 40mph for now. Here at the Main St. crossing, the tracks start down the Cimarron River Valley. The grade is only .8%, the grade starts and ends on the east end of the bridge, (SAMPSON OF THE CIMARRON)-check that issue on the GSR for a couple of details. Both direction off the bridge is .8%, so when you have a 25 mph restrication, you can't get a good run at it. When they would bring them up the hill, they would really fight to bring it up. Good show for the engine lovers. Sorry I wrote so much. Anything else, ask me and I will try my best. laters, Dru
QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Hey all, I am back after a long absence. UP's GSR might be in some trouble. I am still in SW KS,( Kismet to be exact), along this line. I have talked to some of the train service guys, and they said that almost half of the line is at 40 mph! Its 40 miles of this restriction once they leave Pratt( crew change point) and then its 60 for about 4 or 5 miles then back to 40 for another 10. Once they leave Guymon, OK, it is 45-60 all the way to Dalhart, that is almost 75 miles worth of restriction. The Liberal Sub is only 243 miles in length, but at those speeds, about 60% of the trains are dying on the law. Think about something here, this is the same line that they were running the BULLET on at 75 mph. I wonder what UPS would have thought, if that thing derailed on the these type of track conditions!? UP needs to get their act together and do something about this, they think they are GOD. I am a big UP fan but right now, I am very disappointed in them, knowing they have a good line here, that could possibly compete with BNSF, that had been proven with the bullet if they just spend some money for a little bit of TLC. Our density is down to about 12 a day if that, back in pre-merger SP days, when they had the inspections and fueling in Liberal, they were putting 30-40 a day. This line is very capable of handling it, if it was in good shape. Sidings every 15 miles all over 9000 feet in length, except Liberal@8700. All sidings have controlled switches, its all but wired for CTC. If anybody would like to add to this or have any questions, just ask and I will try and tell you about the line some more. Thanks, Dru P.S. Sorry I wrote so much but I had to vent, the wife don't like to here about it. [:D][:D]
QUOTE: Originally posted by farmer03 i know it's pretty common, but it seems odd to me that UP is trying to compete with BNSF between chicago and LA...and uses the competitor's route for 1/4 of the journey. that'd be along the lines of mcdonalds selling big macs at burger king.
QUOTE: Originally posted by rockisland4309 Dru, Has U.P. decided not to wire CTC from Liberal to Herington? In the TRAINS article the railroad was planning on getting the entire GSR wired for CTC to Herington. Also, how many locals run out of Liberal?
QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan Thanks for all the replays guys. Keep them coming. I saw that one stacker with the CSX loco yesterday morning sitting here in the siding @ Kismet. They switched the lead unit which was a C40-8, for the second unit, an SD60, which is always cool to have a EMD up front(just an opinion). The stacker sat in the siding for almost an hour and a half, while waiting on 2 manifests. I have been told by service guys, that they are only running 4 stackers a day on the BNSF, these interchange off @ Hutchinson. They run 4 manifests, and 4 autorack(2 in each direction). You also have the grain trains, which run in DPU mode sometimes. Yesterday, they finally brought in a rock train, and laid it down in the cut that is just west of town. They are supposed to be bringing in a total of 180 cars, this one was just 60 long. But the thing is, they are wanting to run this line to compete with BNSF, at 40 mph? I don't think so. Yes I understand that this not UP's only line, but this line does connect with the Sunset, so they do need some TLC for it. I like the comment about the SP breaking the gov. On the article in TRAINS, yes it was a very good article, but that pic was down in New Mexico, where UP has spent all kinds of money down there, it is CTC and they have done a lot of work, so they are supposed to be here soon. ( Let's hope)! But they are concentratin on the Sunset so much, but its like they have forgotten. SO keep the repies coming and I'll get back to them ASAP. Laters, Dru
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